Taximeter apparatus



' Sept. 24,, 1929. A. MARTlNET TAXIMETER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 25, 1925 Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDRE MARTINET, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR 'ro soontrr: GENERALE mas oomrrnuns DE vorruans, or LA CONDAMINE, rams, FRANCE, A CORPORATION OF FRANCE TAXIMETER APPARATUS Application filed December 23, 1925, Serial No. 77,405, and in France December 29, 1924.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of taximet-er apparatus, characterized-by a safety device having for its object automatic locklng of the flag in the for hire position unless the return to zero of the mechanisms, showing the fare to be paid, has been effected.

In the majority of taximeter apparatus, there is no automatic means for preventing the. flag from being brought from the for hire position to a position of working of the apparatus before the figure drums or discs with fares to be paid are returned to zero, so that if the flag is quickly operated owing to carelessness or with a fraudulent object, it may happen that the mechanisms of the meter would be in gear before the springs, or parts for returning to zero, had time to return the figure drums or mechanisms to their initial position, showing in the window an amount greater than should be charged.

One object of the present invention is to obviate the said drawback by preventing the flag from passing from the for hire to any tariff position before the drums with the fares to be paid have been returned to their initial position.

In the accompanying drawing, Figs. 1 and 2 show two positions of the mechanism according to the invention.

The return of the drums to zero is effected by means of a spindle 1 provided with a longitudinal slot. To the spindle 1 is keyed a toothed pinion 2 meshing with a quadrant 3 rotating about a pin 4 and pulled upwards by a spring 5. At the moment of the return to zero, the quadrant 3, previously cocked by the mechanism of the meter, is released and driven upwards by the spring 5; in the said movement, it rotates the spindle 1 by means of the pinion 2; the longitudinal slot of the spindle 1 meets the pawls 6 controlled by the action of springs 7 and mounted in the drums, and produces the driving of the said drums in the direction of the arrow; the tails of the said pawls pass beyond the rim of the drums and strike a slide bar 8, thus regulating the position of the drums to Zero; this bar is driven by a cam 9 and provided with recesses 8' coming in front of the tails of the pawls 6 during the working of the meter, so as to afford them a passage. This cam 9 is secured to a spindle 10-to which also secured the flag; a toothed disc 11 is keyed to the spindle 10, two pawls 12 and 13 controlled by return springs, are in contact with the periphery of the toothed disc 11. The pawl 13 permits the rotation ofthe flag in the normal direction, but prevents it from taking place in the opposite direction, in the intervals when such rotation should not take place, that is to say between the for hire position and ,tariii' position and between the tariff position and the for hire position, the flag thus being forced to make a complete revolution in order to return to its initial position.

The pawlv 12 acting in the direction opposite to that of the pawl 13, on a single tooth 14 of the disc 11, produces the automatic locking, according to the present invention, by preventing-the rotation of the flag in its normal direction as long as the return to zero has not been effected.

When the apparatus is working, the pawl 12 is always resting on the periphery of the disc 11 without interfering with its movements and consequently without interfering with the movements of the flag except at the points near the return to zero where the pawl 12 will be able to engage with the tooth 14 and stop the flag. In order to disengage the pawl 12 from the tooth 14, it is necessary that the quadrant 8 should have completed the return to zero and be in the upper position, which enables its pin 15 to press against the pin 16 secured to the tail of the pawl 12 for the purpose of raising the letter.

Thus, the flag is released from the pawl 12 and can continue its rotation only if the quadrant 3 reaches the position at which the return to zero is completed.

Claims:

1. In a taximeter, a rotatable drum shaft having a zero setting capability, a pinion on said drum shaft, a flag shaft, said flag shaft having thereon a notched disc, a pawl engagthereafter releasing said pawl only when said drum shafth tion.

as been returned to zero posi- 2. In a ta ximeterf as claimed in claim 1, 5 'whereinthe actuating means includes an oscillatory toothed quadrant and a projection on said quadrant for tripping said pawl when the drum shaft has been returned to zero position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ANDRE MARTINET. 

